Joe concentrates his practice in the areas of workers' compensation defense, professional liability, and employment matters. Joe has taken several bench and jury trials to verdict, and has drafted and argued numerous dispositive motions. Joe has handled workers' compensation arbitration hearings at venues throughout the state, and has argued multiple cases before the Workers' Compensation Commission. Joe regularly handles depositions of expert witnesses and treating physicians in both civil and workers' compensation matters. Joe also devotes a portion of his practice to representing the firm's clients at depositions of plaintiffs and fact witnesses in asbestos personal injury matters.

Joe began his career with Heyl Royster by clerking in the Urbana office. Following graduation from law school, he joined the firm's Urbana office as an associate in August of 2004, and became a partner in 2015. During law school, he served as Articles Editor for the University of Illinois Journal of Law, Technology & Policy.

• "A Primer on Recent Cases Impacting Workers’ Compensation Defense," Illinois Defense Counsel Quarterly Monograph (2016) - Download Article
• "A Disturbing Trend In Recent WC Appellate Decisions," Below the Red Line - Heyl Royster Workers' Compensation Newsletter (2013) - Read Article
• "Amputations," Below the Red Line - Heyl Royster Workers' Compensation Newsletter (2012) - Download Article
• "Review of a Workers' Compensation Claim," Below the Red Line - Heyl Royster Workers' Compensation Newsletter (2011) - Download Article
  
• "Settlement Contracts – New Law and What You Need to Know," Below the Red Line - Heyl Royster Workers' Compensation Newsletter (2009) - Download Article
  

• “Workers' Compensation Education”
  University of Illinois 2020
• “Shining a Light on Investigation of New Claims and Preservation of Evidence/Evidentiary Issues for the Claims Adjuster”
  Heyl Royster's 33rd Annual Claims Handling Seminar 2018
• “The Minor League: Taking Care of Junior - Settlement and Closure of Minor’s Claims”
  Heyl Royster's 32nd Annual Claims Handling Seminar 2017
• “High Impact Defense of Low Impact Accidents”
  Heyl Royster's 31st Annual Claims Handling Seminar 2016
• “Compensability of Psychological Injuries”
  ISBA Advanced Workers’ Compensation Seminar 2015
• “Taking Depositions of AMA Doctors”
  ISBA Advanced Workers’ Compensation Seminar 2014
• “News from the Commission”
  Heyl Royster 29th Annual Claims Handling Seminar 2014

• Selected as a Leading Lawyer in Illinois. Only five percent of lawyers in the state are named as Leading Lawyers.
• Named to Law Bulletin Publishing Company's list of Illinois Emerging Lawyers (2015-2019). Only two percent of Illinois lawyers under the age of 40 or who have been licensed to practice for 10 years or less earn this distinction.
• Named to the Illinois Super Lawyers Rising Stars list (2012-2019). The Super Lawyers Rising Stars selection process is based on peer recognition and professional achievement. Only 2.5 percent of Illinois lawyers under the age of 40 or who have been practicing 10 years or less earn this designation.
• Named a 2015 "Forty Under 40" attorney by Central Illinois Business Magazine. Winners are chosen based on achievement, experience, innovation, leadership, and community involvement.

• Illinois State Bar Association (Vice Chair, Workers' Compensation Section Council)
• Champaign County Bar Association 

• State Courts of Illinois
• State Courts of Indiana
• United States District Court, Central District of Illinois 

• Member, Board of Governors, University of Illinois YMCA
• Board Member, Campus Cooperative Preschool
• Volunteer, United Way of Champaign County Program Review Committee
• Steering Committee Member, Carle CORE; Event Co-coordinator, Carle Foundation In Sync Event
• Youth Sports Coach
• Cub Scout Den Leader